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Review
. 2016 Sep 12:5:F1000 Faculty Rev-2295.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.7522.1. eCollection 2016.

The RhoA-ROCK pathway in the regulation of T and B cell responses

Edd Ricker  1 , Luvana Chowdhury  2 , Woelsung Yi  3 , Alessandra B Pernis  4
Affiliations
Review

The RhoA-ROCK pathway in the regulation of T and B cell responses

Edd Ricker et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Effective immune responses require the precise regulation of dynamic interactions between hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells. The Rho subfamily of GTPases, which includes RhoA, is rapidly activated downstream of a diverse array of biochemical and biomechanical signals, and is emerging as an important mediator of this cross-talk. Key downstream effectors of RhoA are the Rho kinases, or ROCKs. The ROCKs are two serine-threonine kinases that can act as global coordinators of a tissue's response to stress and injury because of their ability to regulate a wide range of biological processes. Although the RhoA-ROCK pathway has been extensively investigated in the non-hematopoietic compartment, its role in the immune system is just now becoming appreciated. In this commentary, we provide a brief overview of recent findings that highlight the contribution of this pathway to lymphocyte development and activation, and the impact that dysregulation in the activation of RhoA and/or the ROCKs may exert on a growing list of autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders.

Keywords: Autoimmune; ROCK; Rho kinase; RhoA; RhoA-ROCK axis; lymphocyte activation; lymphocyte development.

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Conflict of interest statement

Alessandra B. Pernis has received an investigator-initiated research grant from Kadmon Corporation. No competing interests were disclosed. No competing interests were disclosed. No competing interests were disclosed.

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